League Preview: DLR Waves -v- Shamrock Rovers

DLR WAVES

The Waves face one of their toughest tests on campus when the women in green and white look to audit the backline of Laura Heffernan’s Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown outfit in their third league encounter with the Hoops within the space of twelve months.

Following a mid-season managerial change, Heffernan’s home side replaced St Pat’s bound Graham Kelly and successfully steadied the ship in Belfield, securing an 8th place finish - 32 points off Rovers’ final tally.

The UEFA Pro License student, who is the third female to take part in the FAI’s top coaching course, will be keen to inject belief into a club that since its inception in 2012, has reached two FAI Cup finals and finished runner up in the league on two occasions.

Despite having conceded seven league goals in two games against the Hoops in 2023, the women in azure and white can take heart from their gutsy comeback against the home side in Tallaght stadium in the same year, forward Eve O’Brien’s clinical finishing something the two Rolls Royce’s of Rovers defence, Jessica Henessy and Shauna Fox will undoubtedly be quick to pick up.

Heffernan will be hopeful that their defensive unit of Neema Nyangasi, Eve Conheady and Chloe McCarthy can stand up to the test and nullify the unpredictable Stephanie Zambra and Lia O’Leary in the process.

No mean feat.

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Head coach of Shamrock Rovers, Collie O’Neill and Head of Women’s Football in Dublin 24, Jason Carey, know the significance of sporting the club emblem of football and shamrock.

“The men’s team have been fantastic over the last couple of years” O’Neill reflected to extratime.com.

“Their success has been fully justified and what it’s done for us… it has set the standards that we need to be achieving to be part of the Rovers family.”

Having finished a respectable seven points off pole position behind the Greenogue Greats in the Women’s Premier Division last season, the Hoops will look to complete the holy trinity of three league wins against the home side in style, laying down a gauntlet for the season to come at the UCD Bowl this Saturday.

In the build up to their 2024 campaign, Rovers have attracted their fair share of criticism following their league re-entrance, having enticed a number of key players from their rivals with what fans of the opposition deemed to be an unfair advantage.

Yet as O’Neill points out, a professional mindset and environment cannot be bought.

“I think the key word here is professional status and not professional contracts. Any club can sign players on professional contract but the important aspect for us is to try and have professional standards (training facilities, high performance gym, physios, doctors, analysis, support staff.)

“We strive to look after our players in all aspects of the game and their personal lives. The work these players have done so far has made me and the coaching staff very proud and now they are comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

Referee: Daryl Carolan

MATCH STATS

When both clubs collided in league action last year, the Hoops could not have foreseen the seven goal thriller that would ensue, having trooped back to the dressing room with a 4-1 comfortable lead at half-time.

Despite a heroic effort by The Waves to rescue a point from the fixture, first-half goals from Savannah McCarthy, Jessica Gargan, Abbie Larkin and Alannah McEvoy secured three points at Tallaght stadium in the teams first encounter of 2023.

Rovers turned the tables on the home side at the UCD Bowl at the tail end of the season, coming from behind to secure 6 points on the bounce from the Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown contingent with two late goals from Stephanie Zambra.

It is a testament to Rovers’ recruitment, culture and retention that the strength and depth of the squad has allowed for the loss of four of the players who converted in their previous two battles with the Belfield Belles, without diminishing the threat, flair or firepower of the Dublin 24 women.  

Lauren Heffernans side will be on high alert with Jaime Thompson, Aine O’Gorman, Lia O’Leary, Stephanie Zambra and their newest arrival, Fiona Owens, ready to weave and pounce.

PREDICTION

DLR Waves 1–3 Shamrock Rovers

DLR Waves

Injured: None.

Doubtful:  None.

Suspended:  None.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured:  Savannah McCarthy, Amanda Budden.

Doubtful:  None.

Suspended:  None.